Method and system for integrating ventilator and medical device activities

Abstract

A method for integrating a ventilator device with a monitoring device and other medical devices that allows the function of the monitoring device and medical devices to automatically change based on initiation of a respiratory therapy procedure. In addition, modification of behavior on the part of the ventilator is automatic in response to activation of a medical procedure from the medical device or the monitoring device.

1. A method of integrating the operation of a ventilator and a monitoring device to perform a respiratory therapy procedure, method comprising the steps of:
 providing a first control unit integrated into the ventilator and in communication with a second control unit of the monitoring device, wherein the second control unit is remotely located from the ventilator; 
 detecting the activation of a respiratory therapy procedure at the first control unit; and 
 generating a modification signal from the first control unit to the second control unit to automatically modify an operating condition of the monitoring device and an operating condition of the ventilator in response to detection of the activation of the respiratory therapy procedure. 
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the operating condition of the monitoring device is modified upon receipt of the modification signal. 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 detecting the cessation of the respiratory therapy procedure; and 
 automatically modifying the operating conditions of the monitoring device and the ventilator in response to the cessation of the respiratory therapy procedure. 
 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 3  wherein the step of automatically modifying the operating conditions of the monitoring device and the ventilator upon cessation of the respiratory therapy procedure includes returning the monitoring device and the ventilator to the operating conditions prior to activation of the next respiratory therapy procedure. 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of detecting the activation of the respiratory therapy procedure includes detecting an activation signal from the monitoring device that the monitoring device has initiated a monitoring procedure. 
   
   
     6. A method of integrating the operation of a ventilator, a monitoring device including a second control unit and a medical device to perform a respiratory therapy procedure, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a control unit in communication with the ventilator, the monitoring device and the medical device; 
 detecting either an activation signal from the monitoring device indicating that the monitoring device has initiated a monitoring procedure or an activation signal from the medical device indicating that the medical device has initiated a medical procedure; and 
 generating a modification signal from the control unit to the second control unit to automatically modify an operating condition of the medical device and an operating condition of the monitoring device in response to the activation of the respiratory therapy procedure wherein the second control unit is located remote from the control unit. 
 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 6  wherein the medical device is a nebulizer and the respiratory therapy procedure includes the activation of the nebulizer to deliver an aerosolized drug into a flow of ventilation gas from the ventilator, wherein the operating condition of the monitoring device is modified to prevent the intake of the ventilation gas during the respiratory therapy procedure. 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 7  wherein the operation of the nebulizer begins after the modification to the operating condition of the monitoring device. 
   
   
     9. The method of  claim 8  wherein the control unit generates a second modification signal upon termination of the respiratory therapy procedure, wherein the monitoring device and the nebulizer return to their initial operating conditions upon receipt of the second modification signal. 
   
   
     10. The method of  claim 6  wherein the operating conditions of the medical device and the monitoring device are modified upon receipt of the modification signal. 
   
   
     11. The method of  claim 6  wherein the control unit is integrated into the ventilator. 
   
   
     12. The method of  claim 11  wherein the medical device includes a control unit, the medical device control unit being integrated into the ventilator. 
   
   
     13. The method of  claim 11  wherein the medical device includes a control unit remotely located from the ventilator, wherein the ventilator control unit communicates to the medical device control unit over a communication link. 
   
   
     14. The method of  claim 6  wherein the medical device is an imaging device. 
   
   
     15. The method of  claim 6  wherein the medical device is a drug delivery device. 
   
   
     16. The method of  claim 15  wherein the operating condition of the drug delivery device is modified such that the drug delivery device operation is synchronized with the operation of the ventilator to more effectively deliver the drug. 
   
   
     17. The method of  claim 6  wherein the method includes the step of automatically modifying an operating condition of the medical device in response to the cessation of the respiratory therapy procedure. 
   
   
     18. A method of integrating the operation of a ventilator and a medical device, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a first control unit integrated into the ventilator and in communication with a second control unit of the medical device, wherein the second control unit is remotely located from the first control unit of the ventilator; 
 detecting the activation of a medical procedure at the first control unit; and 
 generating a modification signal from the first control unit to the second control unit to automatically modify an operating condition of the ventilator and an operating condition of the medical device in response to the activation of the medical procedure. 
 
   
   
     19. The method of  claim 18  further comprising the steps of:
 detecting the cessation of the medical procedure at the first control unit; and 
 automatically modifying the operating condition of the ventilator in response to the cessation of the medical procedure. 
 
   
   
     20. The method of  claim 18  wherein the step of detecting the activation of the medical procedure includes detecting an activation signal from the medical device that the medical device has initiated the medical procedure. 
   
   
     21. The method of  claim 18  wherein the medical device is an imaging device, wherein the activation of the medical procedure is initiated at the imaging device. 
   
   
     22. The method of  claim 21  wherein upon initiation of the medical procedure, the operating condition of the ventilator is adjusted to optimize the medical procedure. 
   
   
     23. The method of  claim 18  wherein the medical device is a drug delivery device. 
   
   
     24. The method of  claim 23  wherein the activation of the medical procedure is initiated at the drug delivery device. 
   
   
     25. The method of  claim 24  wherein upon initiation of the medical procedure, the operating conditions of the ventilator are modified to optimize the performance of the medical procedure. 
   
   
     26. The method of  claim 23  wherein the operating condition of the drug delivery device is modified such that the drug delivery device operation is synchronized with the operation of the ventilator to more effectively deliver the drug. 
   
   
     27. A control system for automatically integrating the operation of a ventilator and a medical device, the system comprising:
 a control unit in communication with ventilator and operable to modify the operation of the ventilator and modify the operation of the medical device via a second control unit located remotely from the control unit; and 
 a communication link between the control unit and the medical device such that the control unit can communicate with the medical device through the communication link, 
 wherein the control unit modifies the operation of the ventilator and the operation of the medical device via the second control unit in response to the activation of a respiratory therapy procedure by either the ventilator or the medical device. 
 
   
   
     28. The system of  claim 27  wherein the medical device is an imaging system. 
   
   
     29. The control system of  claim 27  wherein the communication link is a RS-422 connection. 
   
   
     30. The control system of  claim 27  wherein the medical device is a nebulizer. 
   
   
     31. A control system for automatically integrating the operation of a ventilator, a medical device including a second control unit and a monitoring device to perform a respiratory therapy procedure, the system comprising:
 a control unit in communication with the ventilator, the medical device and the monitoring device and operable to modify the operation of the ventilator, medical device and the monitoring device; 
 wherein the control unit modifies the operation of the monitoring device and the operation of the medical device via the second control unit upon activation of a respiratory therapy procedure by any of the ventilator, the medical device and the second control unit is located remotely from the control unit or the monitoring device. 
 
   
   
     32. The control system of  claim 31  wherein the medical device is a nebulizer and the respiratory therapy procedure includes the activation of the nebulizer to entrain an aerosol aerolized drug into the flow of ventilation gas in the ventilator, wherein the operating condition of the monitoring device is modified to prevent the intake of the ventilation gas during the respiratory therapy procedure. 
   
   
     33. The control system of  claim 32  wherein the nebulizer is integrated into the ventilator. 
   
   
     34. A control system for automatically integrating the operation of a ventilator, a medical device including a second control unit and a monitoring device to perform a respiratory therapy procedure, the system comprising:
 a control unit in communication with the ventilator and operable to modify the operation of the ventilator, the medical device and the monitoring device; 
 a communication link between the control unit and the second control unit of the monitoring device such that the control unit can communicate with the monitoring device through the communication link; and 
 a communication link between the control unit and the medical device such that the control unit can communicate with the medical device through the communication link, 
 wherein the control unit modifies the operation at least two of the monitoring device, the medical device and the ventilator upon activation of a respiratory therapy procedure by any of the ventilator, the medical device or the monitoring device and the second control unit is located remotely from the first control unit. 
 
   
   
     35. The control system of  claim 34  wherein the medical device is a nebulizer and the wherein the monitoring device is a gas monitoring device. 
   
   
     36. The control system of  claim 34  wherein the medical device is an imaging device. 
   
   
     37. A control system for automatically integrating the operation of a ventilator and a monitoring device, the system comprising:
 a control unit in communication with ventilator and operable to modify the operation of the ventilator and modify the operation of the monitoring device via a second control unit located remotely from the control unit; and 
 a communication link between the control unit and the monitoring device such that the control unit can communicate with the monitoring device through the communication link, 
 wherein the control unit modifies the operation of the ventilator and the operation of the monitoring device via the second control unit in response to activation of a respiratory therapy procedure. 
 
   
   
     38. The system of  claim 37  wherein the monitoring device is a gas monitoring device.